Narcolepsy is a chronic (lifelong) neurological (brain-related) condition. Excessive daytime sleepiness is its most common symptom. If you have narcolepsy, you do not need more sleep than other people. Rather, you are not able to maintain normal sleep and wake states. The resulting irregular sleep patterns can make you extra sleepy during the day. These patterns can also keep you from getting the quality sleep you need at night. In most cases, narcolepsy symptoms first appear when patients are between the ages of 10 and 25. But they can appear at any age and in any order. Many patients find that symptoms get worse as they get older. Other patients find that symptoms lessen over time, although they never go away completely.